Charleston Regional Development Alliance Releases 2026 Innovation Scorecard

Innovation doesn’t happen overnight. It is built over years through strategic investments, entrepreneurial growth, talent development, research, and collaboration. Today, the Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA), in partnership with The Catalyst Foundation, is proud to announce the release of the 2026 Charleston Region Innovation Scorecard—the second annual publication measuring the region’s innovation economy and progress against some of the nation’s leading metropolitan areas.

First introduced in 2025, the Innovation Scorecard established a baseline for how the Charleston region compares to peer metros. This second edition moves beyond establishing where we are—it demonstrates where we’re headed. By tracking progress across five key categories, the report provides business leaders, site selectors, investors, policymakers, and community partners with a data-driven view of the region’s long-term competitiveness and innovation economy.

A Region Building Momentum

One of the strongest indicators of Charleston’s growing competitiveness comes from the Milken Institute’s 2026 Best Performing Cities Report, where the Charleston metropolitan area ranked #3 nationally among metropolitan areas with populations of at least 275,000.

That achievement is not the result of a single project or investment. It reflects more than a decade of sustained growth across the region’s economy, workforce, research institutions, and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Highlights from the 2026 Scorecard

Among this year’s findings:

• #3 nationally among metros with populations of at least 275,000 in the Milken Institute’s 2026 Best Performing Cities rankings.
• 18,372 new business applications were filed in 2024, representing 151.7% growth over the past decade.
• Charleston ranked among the Top 50 U.S. metros for venture capital deal count in the National Venture Capital Association’s 2025 Yearbook.
• 46.9% of the region’s workforce holds a bachelor’s degree or higher, exceeding the national average.
• Regional universities generated $335 million in research and development expenditures in 2024, a 17% increase over the past three years.
• Charleston generates $413,000 in high-tech output per worker, outperforming the majority of peer metros despite having the smallest workforce in the comparison.
• The region recorded the highest real median household income growth among peer metros between 2019 and 2024 while reducing poverty to 9%.

More Than a Scorecard

The Innovation Scorecard is more than a collection of statistics—it serves as a benchmark for the Charleston region’s shared innovation strategy.

Developed through collaboration with regional partners, the report helps measure progress toward building a more competitive, resilient, and innovation-driven economy. It also identifies opportunities where continued investment and collaboration will be essential to sustaining long-term success. As the report notes, while Charleston’s momentum is clear, the work is far from complete. Maintaining this trajectory will require continued focus on infrastructure, talent, entrepreneurship, research, and regional collaboration.

Explore the Full Report

The Charleston region’s innovation story continues to evolve, and the 2026 Innovation Scorecard offers a comprehensive look at the trends shaping its future.

Whether you’re a business leader, site selector, entrepreneur, investor, elected official, or community member, the report provides valuable insights into the strengths, opportunities, and momentum driving one of America’s fastest-growing regional economies.

View the complete 2026 Charleston Region Innovation Scorecard and explore the data behind Charleston’s innovation economy HERE.